Plastic Back is an Israeli startup spun out from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The company specializes in low-temperature chemical recycling and it recently announced a strategic partnership with a U.S.-based recycler to address the growing global plastic waste crisis.
Developed in collaboration with Yissum, the university’s tech transfer arm, Plastic Back is supported by the BIRD Foundation, an Israel-United States binational industrial R&D foundation, the Israel Innovation Authority, the investment arm of the Israeli government, and the Israel’s Ministry of Energy.
Following the partnership, Plastic Back hopes to establish a first-of-its-kind recycling facility in the U.S. The partnership aims to advance state-of-the-art chemical recycling solutions and promote sustainable waste management on a global scale.
With more than 400 million tons of plastic waste produced annually worldwide—and less than 6% effectively recycled—millions of tons of waste end up in landfills or leak into the environment, contributing to an estimated resource loss of $120 billion per year, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Traditional recycling methods remain inadequate in managing the sheer volume of plastic waste generated.
Plastic Back’s technology was invented by Prof. Yoel Sasson and Dr. Uri Stoin of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The method transforms difficult-to-treat plastics, such as PVC, into high-value byproducts that can be reintegrated into petrochemical production.
By developing and testing chemical recycling units capable of processing PVC-rich waste streams, the company produces naphtha-range oils and brine solutions, both of which can be reintegrated into existing industrial processes, reducing dependency on virgin materials and traditional plastic manufacturing methods.
The startup has the bold mission to upcycle 100,000 tons of plastic waste by 2030.
‘We see the PVC chemical recycling segment as a major opportunity,” said Tal Binder Cohen, CEO of Plastic Back. “The support from the BIRD Foundation enhances our ability to commercialize our solution in the U.S. and close the loop on difficult-to-treat PVC waste streams.”
Plastic Back’s process breaks down plastics into valuable products like high-value oils and brine solutions. The technology not only reduces plastic waste pollution but also decreases dependence on virgin raw materials, providing a sustainable solution for the petrochemical industry. By removing chlorine from PVC and converting it into crude oil-like substances (naphtha), which can be refined into new plastics, the company helps establish a circular economy and tackle a major environmental challenge.